How to cook tri tip steak in cast iron skillet

January 8, 2021lovethatlowcarb

Today I will be teaching you how to cook tri tip in the oven using a cast iron skillet! Tri tip is a part-steak part-roast that, when cooked correctly, is tender and pink on the inside with a tasty char on the outside. It’s the perfect meat for a family who likes different levels of doneness.

You are not living if you’ve never tried tri tip! Today I will show you how to cook the perfect mouth-watering tri tip in the oven.

What Is Tri Tip?

Tri tip is a triangular cut form the bottom sirloin that has 3 tips (hence ‘tri tip’). This unique cut of beef is part steak, part roast. Cooked correctly, you get that succulent tender pink inside with a tasty charred outside. This yummy piece of meat is usually 1.5 to 2.5 pounds and also goes by the names “The California Cut”, “Bottom Sirloin Tip” or “Triangle Roast”

Tri tip is great too if you have a family that likes different levels of doneness. The end tips tend to get a nice (but not chewy) well, becoming more medium to medium rare in the thickest center part. With the tri tip everyone gets their beef cooked their way!

I cook my tri tip in a cast iron skillet because all steak is better cooked in cast iron! Yes, even part steaks! I’ve made tri tip in my Insta Pot a few times but all I ended up with was a grey steamed piece of meat I tried to broil back to life (spoiler alert- it didn’t work). When in doubt, cook your steak / roast in cast iron!

Steak Seasonings:

If its in my house, I will always use Spade L. Ranch Beef Seasoning on my steaks. I am absolutely obsessed with this rub! I rub a bit on each side of my steaks in leu of salt and pepper. If I happen to have run out I liberally apply salt and pepper, maybe a sprig of rosemary and a dollop of butter on top.

Beef Doneness Temps:

• 120F Rare
• 130F Medium Rare
• 140F Medium
• 150F Medium Well
• 160+ Well

How To Make The Perfect Tri Tip Steak In The Oven:

1. Preheat the oven to 425F
2. Generously rub your seasoning all over both sides of the meat (I love Spade L. Ranch beef seasoning). Any of your favorite seasoning salts will do, or if you’re in a pinch just use salt and pepper.
3. Heat your cast iron skillet over medium and add a spot of olive oil.
4. Once the oil is heated, add the tri tip fat side down, and cook 4 minutes (don’t move the meat while cooking).
5. Flip the tri tip so the fat-cap is up and place the skillet in the oven.
6. Roast 10 to 15 minutes per pound, until the internal temperature of the thickest part reaches your desired level of doneness. (135F Medium Rare, 145F Medium for example)
7. Remove the cast iron from the oven and tent with aluminum foil 5 to 10 minutes.
8. Transfer to a cutting board and slice against the grain.

Carving A Tri Tip Roast

Tri Tip should always be sliced against the grain. The easiest way to determine the grain of the meat is to observe the direction the fat runs in, then you cut opposite to that. Does your roast’s grain go in different directions towards the center? Simply cut the roast in half where those changes are and cut each piece against the grain.

Why against the grain? Cutting a roast against the grain shortens the fibers of the meat making them easier to chew which in turn makes your roast more tender and even better.

The only carbs in this recipe are the ones in your seasoning salts!

Cooking The Perfect Tri Tip Roast

Tri tip is a steak part roast that, when cooked correctly, is tender and pink on the inside with a tasty char on the outside. It’s the perfect meat for a family who likes different levels of doneness.

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 30 mins

Total Time 35 mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 4 oz Servings

Calories 186 kcal

• Cast Iron Skillet

• Meat Thermometer

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 Tri Tip Steak
• 2 tbsp Spade L. Ranch Seasoning optional
• or your favorite seasoning salt

• Preheat oven to 425F

• Generously rub your seasoning all over both sides of the meat (I love Spade L. Ranch beef seasoning). Any of your favorite seasoning salts will do.

• Heat your cast iron skillet over medium and add your oil.

• Once the oil is heated to shimmering, add the tri tip fat side down, and cook 4 minutes (don’t move the meat while cooking).

• Flip the tri tip so the fat-cap is up and place the skillet in the oven.

• Roast 10 to 15 minutes per pound, until the internal temperature of the thickest part reaches your desired level of doneness. (135F Medium Rare, 145F Medium for example)

• Remove the cast iron from the oven and tent with aluminum foil 5 to 10 minutes

• Transfer to a cutting board and slice against the grain.

The carbs in this recipe depend on the seasoning salt / mixes you use. 

Serving: 4ozCalories: 186kcal

Keyword california cut roast, how to cook a steak in cast iron, how to cook roast, how to cook steak, lodge cast iron steak, roast, roast in oven, steak, tri tip

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